CHICAGO — After coming off the bench in the season opener, Andrea Bargnani was back in the starting lineup in the Knicks’ 82-81 loss to the Bulls Thursday night at United Center, away from the impatient Garden crowd, which booed him after he missed his first two shots.

Bargnani had a brutal first half Thursday, going scoreless and picking up three offensive fouls in the second quarter. But he settled down to finish 4 of 7 for nine points in 24:38. He did not play the final 9:43.

It was better than his Knicks debut at the Garden when he got booed.

Bargnani, who missed all four of his shots in the first half in the opener, said the fans have the right to boo. Bargnani was also booed in Toronto last season — leading to his exit.

“Absolutely,’’ Bargnani said. “I was missing shots. They were open shots. I got to keep taking them. I missed open shots. All I can do is keep taking them and keep working hard.’’

Bargnani had started all preseason and most of his career. Suddenly, coach Mike Woodson decided on yanking him from the starting lineup in favor of the successful two point-guard backcourt of last season — Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni in a small lineup — for the opener.

Thursday night, the two point-guard alignment was ditched.

“I don’t think rhythm is the reason if I’m starting or being off the bench,’’ Bargnani said. “I was very happy to be back on the court after all the months when I sat out with [an] injury [last year],’’

Bargnani said. “I was happy to play after all this time.’’

Bargnani said he wasn’t nervous in his first regular-season game as a Knick.

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Amar’e Stoudemire made his season debut and struggled in the first half. He finished with five points on 2 of 3 shooting in 10:40. He’s on a 10-minute nightly limit.

Stoudemire checked in with 4:06 left in first quarter and the Knicks, down three, stumbled.

He bounced the ball off of his foot and out of bounds on his first foray, then committed an offensive foul setting a pick. Stoudemire was worse defending burly Carlos Boozer, who scored three times over Stoudemire. Finally Taj Gibson skied at the buzzer for a putback and the Knicks trailed by 10 after one.

Stoudemire was better in the second half, scoring on two post moves.

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Point guard Raymond Felton (5-for-14, 13 points) said his strained left hamstring, which he first injured in preseason, could linger for more than a month.

“Hopefully it goes away,’’ Felton said before the contest with his left leg wrapped. “It could last two, three days but it could last up to six weeks. Hopefully one day I wake up and it’s gone. Right now it’s a nagging thing I have to deal with.’’

What's Your Take?

The offense at the end was sickening. Woodson has to abandon the Melo ball and play within a team concept in the last 3 minutes. I can see the ISO shot at the end. I have No problem with that at all, but it was ISO ball for the last 4 minutes of the game. I mean come on already. Melo wasn't even rolling like that to justify the offensive strategy. I think a lot of players are gonna be phased out of the rotation. Once that's set. The Knicks will start rolling.

The problem with Stoudemire even when he's going good is his propensity to cough up the basketball without being forced -- unforced turnovers -- on his spin move. Peter Vecsey pointed that out when Stat first came to town. He is ultimately just the wrong player for Woodson's system. At least Bargnani doesn't lose the ball. Stat is a ferocious attacker of the basket but don't know Woody will play him much last 2 minutes.

Didn't think he played that badly in game 1. Difference was he hit his jumpshots in game 2.

He brings the Knicks a lot on the offensive end -- the high pick, the post, the pick and pop, the spot up draw the defense then drive to the basket. He's one of the best big men in the NBA at driving to the basket; almost Nowitski-esque.

He's 'ok for a big man' on defense -- fiesty as BS would put it. But his rebounding is horrid. He sets a pick at top of key, passes the ball for another knick to shoot, and then he's nowhere to be found under the basket. Same on defense he's never in the right place and he doesn't have good hands.

If he could improve his rebounding he could be a star. But that's easier said than done. Rebounding is part work, part determination, part state of mind, and part god-given skills.

@Jackie C. I agree. It sickens me to see Woodson play Melo with the ball and watch the rest of the team clear out. The Knicks play at their best when there is ball movement. Melo will get a better open look and other members of the team can make some shots too.

I was really happy to see Amare develop a post game and a couple of go to moves. But I am disappointed that it appears the coaching staff forgot he was an excellent pick n roll player with a sweet midrange jumper. I think a guy like Amare could potentially play well with Udrih on the second team

@Bob Lyle if we want more rebounding which by far we are missing then we need to go back and get Ike Diogu for instant help in the middle and at the same time save Chandler for the playoffs,I don`t think Cole Aldrich is the answer seriously if he was he would have been in the game at some point also Diogu`s preseason performance speaks for itself...I`m not feeling good about Woodson blunders lately!